Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 19 Sutra 11 - Arthashastra | Sanskrit | Vedapath

Sutra 11

Devanagari script

षडङ्गुलादूर्ध्वमष्टाङ्गुलोत्तरा दश तुलाः कारयेत् लोहपलादूर्ध्वमेकपलोत्तराः यन्त्रमुभयतःशिक्यं वा ॥ कZ_०२.१९.११ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍaṅgulādūrdhvamaṣṭāṅgulottarā daśa tulāḥ kārayet lohapalādūrdhvamekapalottarāḥ yantramubhayataḥśikyaṃ vā

Translation

षडङ्गुलात् ऊर्ध्वम् अष्टाङ्गुलोत्तराः दश तुलाः कारयेत्; लोहपलात् ऊर्ध्वम् एकपलोत्तराः (लोह-भाराः) च; अथवा उभयतःशिक्यं यन्त्रम्।

Word by Word

षडङ्गुलात्from (a measure of) six aṅgulas

ऊर्ध्वम्upwards; above; beyond

अष्टाङ्गुलोत्तराःhaving an addition of eight aṅgulas (i.e., eight aṅgulas more)

दशten

तुलाःbalances; weighing-scales

कारयेत्should cause to be made; should have made

लोहपलात्from an iron pala (weight)

ऊर्ध्वम्above; beyond

एकपलोत्तराःhaving an addition of one pala (i.e., one pala more)

यन्त्रम्a device; an apparatus (here, weighing mechanism)

उभयतःon both sides

शिक्यम्a hanging sling/pan (suspended receptacle)

वाor

Entities Mentioned

state workshop

weights-and-measures superintendent (implied)

inspectors (implied)

Why prescribe multiple balances rather than one universal scale?

Different load ranges require different beam lengths and counterweights; standardized sets improve accuracy and reduce scope for dispute.